Speaker
Description
The establishment of logistics platforms in medium-to-small-sized municipalities has increasingly contributed to soil consumption, significantly impacting northern Italy in recent years and generating notable side effects. This issue is particularly evident in the province of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, which hosts a cross-border logistics network of major European significance, known as the Milan Logistic Region. This research examines the implications of this phenomenon through an in-depth study of the Logistic Park in Castel San Giovanni, one of the largest logistics hubs in northern Italy. Castel San Giovanni is a small town with fewer than 15,000 inhabitants, yet it has undergone significant transformations due to the expansion of logistics infrastructure.
The paper investigates the development of the Logistic Park as a case study to assess the impact of Emilia-Romagna’s Regional Law No. 24/2017 on soil consumption. This legislation serves as a key example of how large-scale transformations have been regulated in recent years, particularly in light of the European directive targeting zero land take by 2050. The analysis traces the legislative process and the origins of the logistics hub, which evolved through a series of approvals outside the main urban planning framework. This fragmented approach has resulted in a settlement that is poorly integrated into the pre-existing urban fabric.
By examining the development of the logistics hub and its broader impacts, the research ultimately proposes measures to reinforce the provincial green network. These include rethinking the role of private stakeholders in ecological and environmental compensation agreements, positioning the logistics hub as an opportunity to foster sustainability. Finally, the paper reflects on the feasibility of steering the hub’s evolution towards greater sustainability, adaptation, and resilience—key imperatives in addressing contemporary urban and environmental challenges. The case study highlights the risks associated with fragmented planning processes, which often prioritise private interests and rapid implementation over integrated, long-term strategies for the common good.
| Keywords | Soil consumption, Logistic platforms, E-commerce, Urban Planning |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
